Brisbane ATM skimmers a threat to customers

Kim Stephens

A sophisticated international ATM skimming ring has hit south east Queensland and police believe hundreds of machines could have been targeted.

Fraud squad Detective Superintendent Brian Hay said a skimming device recently found in an Ascot machine was similar to that found in two Queen Street Mall ATMs last November and they had the potential to leave victims on the brink of financial ruin.

The skimming device is used to steal and use identification data from bank cards. Photo: Supplied

“This is organised crime of a transnational level, it’s not just an ATM being attacked in Brisbane,’’ he said.

Superintendent Hay said the thieves not only empty people’s bank accounts but can assume their identities by matching details with information obtained from social media sites to obtain credit in a move that can leave victims thousands of dollars in debt.

He warned ATM users to be vigilant because it was impossible to tell how many others in the state’s south east could be affected.

‘‘We know these crooks operate in small groups, they are very highly mobile, they hit and run very quickly,’’ he said.

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‘‘We always make the assumption they have flown in from overseas, hit various locations and then, over several weeks co-ordinate the camera information with the details taken off the card.’’

Superintendent Hay described the skimming devices as a ‘‘slick looking unit’’ and said it was possible the same syndicate was behind the Ascot device and the devices discovered in the Queen Street Mall ATMs in November last year.

He said some simple protective measures, such as ATM users covering their hands when entering their PIN, could save them what could be potentially be years of headaches.

‘‘I would ask members of the public to be extremely vigilant, always give the card entry point a bit of a wiggle, because they put it on with double sided tape,’’ he said.

‘‘I’d also check bank statements every month, to look for one dollar or two dollar transactions because they often do those as a test.’’

Superintendent Hay also advised people to report any suspicious behaviour around ATMs, saying thieves often worked in pairs to install skimmers and tried to hide their identity from security cameras with caps and sunglasses.

He said they usually targeted a certain model of ATM, which was used by a variety of banks.

‘‘In all probability others have been compromised,’’ he said.

‘‘Skimming products are specifically designed and built for certain models of ATMs which are used by multiple banks.’’